Wednesday, May 16, 2018

JA Happ pitched seven solid innings and was 2-3 at the plate with a pair of singles and a pair of runs scored as the Blue Jays routed the New York Mets

This was an important game for a couple of reasons. First, the Blue Jays were hoping to avoid falling below .500 for the first time since March 31. Second, the Blue Jays were looking to avoid beiing swept in a series for the first time this season. They had to do it in rainy conditions. Here is today's game recap.

Game highlights:

The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 1st on a Justin Smoak HR to right-center

Teoscar Hernandez extended the lead to 3 with a 2 run HR that also scored Josh Donaldson

Donaldson singled to score JA Happ in the top of the 5th

The next batter Smoak doubled to score Curtis Granderson and Donaldson

Richard Urena hit a three run HR in the top of the 9th scoring Luke Maile and Dwight Smith Jr.

The Mets got on the board in the bottom of the 9th on a Brandon Nimmo opposite field HR.

Final score: Blue Jays 12 Mets 1

My take:

A big shoutout to the New York Mets ground crew for doing such a great job with keeping the field in good playing conditions. The weather was nasty today. The rain was going steady all game, hard in the bottom of the 3rd to the point where there were puddles on the ground in the infield and things were downright unplayable. At one point, JA Happ slipped on the mound delivering a pitch and there were piddles everywhere on the field. The ground crew came out and spent twenty or so minutes putting down dehydrated mud to sweeping it around to sop up the wet spots.

JA Happ was terrific, both on the mound and at the plate today. He pitched seven strong innings, allowing just 2 base runners all game. Happ had great command of his pitches today in difficult playing conditions to say the least. At the plate, Happ went 2-3 with a pair of singles, a walk and a pair of runs scored. Happ has easily been the Blue Jays best starting pitcher this season. Hopefully the other Jays starters can get it going soon.

This game was just what the Jay's offense needed. In the 5th inning, the Blue Jays batted around scoring a trio of runs. Teoscar Hernandez, Justin Smoak and Richard Urena combined to drive in o of the Blue Jays 12 runs today. Only Yangervis Solarte and Gio Urshela failed to get a hit today (out of the starting lineup).

Up next, Blue Jays return home to begin a four game series against the Oakland A's. The Blue Jays won the season series against Oakland last year, including a 4 game sweep at the Roger's Center (good omen for Thursday?). Thursday's pitching matchup will be Blue Jays righty Aaron Sanchez taking on A's righty Andrew Triggs.

I am a graduate from SFU with a major in psychology and a minor in Health Sciences. I am a huge advocate for children w/ Special Needs. I'm a huge Canucks fan. As well I love watching baseball in the summer. I have an 8-year-old Havanese-Shih Tzu